Rigworld Training Centre (RTC), an indigenous
Ghanaian company has presented an ambulance to the sick bay of the Regional
Maritime University (RMU).
The ambulance, which is estimated to cost over
20,000 euros, is fully fitted with modern state of the art equipment and is
said to be the first-ever to be dedicated to the sick bay of RMU in its 60
years of existence.
The donation
of the ambulance comes as a big relief to the university community as it will
help deal with emergencies in a timely manner.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony RMU campus,
Managing Director of Rigworld Training Centre, Steve Taylor said the donation
was done to support the RMU in the development of its programmes.
He said, “It gives us an opportunity to help support
them in the development of their programmes, in addition to that it helps them
to increase their capabilities in terms of support for their safety and their
emergency response so, it is a celebration for RMU in as much as it is a
celebration for Rigworld.”
Rigworld Training Centre also announced plans were
far advanced to construct a training centre similar to its centre in Takoradi
in the premises of RMU.
“What is happening is that we currently have a
10-year memorandum of understanding with RMU after which we have signed a
collaborative agreement in which the parties have made certain pledges to each
other. RMU have allocated two acres of land to us to replicate the training
facility we have in Takoradi here on their campus to cater for the Accra
market. The facility shall also serve all the member states of RMU. We have the
financial muscles and intend to invest some huge sums putting up that
ultra-modern training facility,” Kwame Nyampong, a member of the legal team of
Rigworld Group disclosed.
Vice Dean of
the RMU, Prof. Elvis Nyarko expressed delight at the gesture by the RTC saying
the ambulance will go a long way to prevent the unconventional ways they used
in times past to convey their sick and injured persons to nearby health
facilities.
He said, “Actually, we’ve needed it for so
long. Since this sick bay has been here for close to 60 years, this is the
first time in our history that we are actually having an ambulance dedicated to
us.”
Prof. Nyarko was optimistic the relationship between
the two institutions in developing capacity in offshore training will continue
to grow.
“I believe this is a big first step towards our
collaboration to work together to develop capacities to provide emergency
response and training to Ghanaians and to other members of West African states
and hopefully we can take it further and do much better with the relationship
that we have developed,” the RMU Vice Dean said.
Rigworld Training Centre recently signed an
accreditation partnership with the RMU to train personnel on International
Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations.
The training covers two certified IMO mandatory
short courses for which trainees will be issued with two certificates; one
jointly signed by RTC and RMU and the other singed by the Ghana Maritime
Authority.
Among some of the course that would be offered are
Elementary First Aid, Personal Survival Techniques, Personal Safety and Social
Responsibilities as well as Basic Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting.
Others are International Ship and Port Facility,
Security Code, Oil/Chemical Tanker Familiarization, Efficient Deck Hand,
Lifeboat, Proficiency in Survival Craft Rescue Boat, Radar/ARPA Simulator
Training as well as International Safety Management.
